Adjustable stand for a planter

ABSTRACT

One embodiment relates to an adjustable stand for supporting plants for display in a container. The adjustable stand includes a base, configured for placement in the container; a plurality of risers extending generally upwardly from the base; a series of projections extending from each of the risers, and a platform having a portion configured to removably engage the projections on the risers. The projections are spaced apart from one another at predetermined intervals to define a plurality of elevations above the base. The platform removably engages the projections on the risers at each of the plurality of elevations.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to the field of adjustablebrackets or stands for supporting plants and the like, and moreparticularly to an adjustable support for displaying various sizedplants within various sized containers. Pots, planters, or other largecontainers are commonly used by landscapers and interior decorators.However, smaller plants or plants with shallow root systems may notrequire the full volume of the pot to accommodate them. So that suchplants may be placed or displayed at an appropriate elevation such thatthey can be seen protruding from the pot, fillers are often used.Fillers such as blocks of foam, upended smaller posts, packing“peanuts”, etc. may be used to raise the plants and avoid the need tofill the entire pot with dirt. The use of such fillers can beundesirable, however, if the arrangement of types of plants used in thepot are changed. Upended pots and blocks of foam may offer limitedoptions for the height of the plant in the pot and foam “peanuts” andthe like tend to cause a mess.

SUMMARY

One embodiment relates to an adjustable stand for supporting plants fordisplay in a container. The adjustable stand includes a base, configuredfor placement in the container; a plurality of risers extendinggenerally upwardly from the base; a series of projections extending fromeach of the risers, and a platform having a portion configured toremovably engage the projections on the risers. The projections arespaced apart from one another at predetermined intervals to define aplurality of elevations above the base. The platform removably engagesthe projections on the risers at each of the plurality of elevations.

Another embodiment relates to an adjustable support for displayingplants in a container. The adjustable support includes a first elongatedloop having substantially parallel sides that define a central regionand end regions; a second elongated loop having substantially parallelsides that define a central region and end regions; a base with the endregions extending from the base to define risers; a series of supportsdefining a plurality of elevations above the base; and a platform havingopenings to receive the end regions of the loops and to engage thesupports. The first elongated loop and the second elongated loop eachhave substantially parallel sides that define a central region and endregions. The end regions extend generally upward from the centralregion. The central regions of the first and second loops are coupled toone another to define the base. The series of supports extend along atleast one of the parallel sides in the end regions of each loop fromeach of the risers. The platform engages the supports on each end regionthat correspond to any one of a plurality of predetermined elevationsettings configured to display the plants in the container.

Another embodiment relates to an adjustable support for displayingplants in a container. The adjustable support includes a base; aplurality of risers extending upwardly from the base; and a platformhaving openings to receive the risers. The base has a plurality of feetconfigured to be supported on the container. The risers extend upwardlyfrom the base and have supports positioned at least partially therealongat locations corresponding to predetermined display elevations for theplants. The platform has openings to receive the risers and to engagesupports corresponding to any one of the predetermined displayelevation. The risers are biased relative to a location of the openingsin the platform to provide one of tension or compression on theplatform.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pot including a plant supported by anadjustable stand according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an perspective view of the adjustable stand of FIG. 1 with aplatform in a first position.

FIG. 3 is an perspective view of the adjustable stand of FIG. 1 with aplatform in a second position.

FIG. 4 is an perspective view of the adjustable stand of FIG. 1 with aplatform in a third position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1, an adjustable stand 10 (e.g., rack, support,bracket, etc.) is shown according to an exemplary embodiment. Adjustablestand 10 is configured to be placed inside a relatively large pot orplanter 12 and support a plant 14. Plants 14 used in pot 12 may have ashallow root system (e.g., less than 5-6 inches) that requires a spacethat is generally smaller than the volume of pot 12. Adjustable stand 10may be adjusted to support plant 14 at a variety of heights orelevations. In this way, different plants may be placed in the pot andsupported at a preferred height or elevation.

As shown in more detail in FIGS. 2-4, adjustable stand 10 includes abase 20, a plurality of risers 30 extending generally upwardly from base20, a series of projections 40 extending from each of risers 30, and aplatform 50 that engages projections 40. According to one exemplaryembodiment, base 20 and risers 30 are formed by a first elongated loop16 and a second elongated loop 18. Loops 16 and 18 are metal (e.g. wire,etc.) elongated loops that each have substantially parallel sides andare coupled together in an X-shape or pattern (e.g., substantiallyperpendicular to one another). According to one exemplary embodiment,loops 16 and 18 are coupled together with a clip 24. Clip 24 may beremoved to allow loops 16 and 18 to be separated (e.g., for storage,transport, packaging, etc.). According to other exemplary embodiments,loops 16 and 18 may be permanently coupled together (e.g., by welding,etc.). Loops 16 and 18 have central regions that define base 20. The endregions of loops 16 and 18 extend upwardly from base 20 to define armsor risers 30. Portions of loops 16 and 18 may extend downward below base20 to define supports or feet 22. According to an exemplary embodiment,feet 22 are formed between risers 30 and base 20. Providing feet 22 asfar towards the outside of base 20 as reasonably possible is intended toform a generally stable support for adjustable stand 10.

A series of supports or projections 40 are shown to extend from risers30. Projections 40 are spaced apart from each other at predeterminedintervals to provide a series of elevations at which platform 40 may besupported. According to one exemplary embodiment, projections aresubstantially spherical bodies that are coupled (e.g., by welding, etc.)to risers 30 and extend outward from risers 30. According to otherexemplary embodiments, projections 40 may be other forms such asL-shaped hooks, plates, shelves, cylindrical posts, etc. Projections 40may extend inward (e.g. towards base 20) or outward (e.g., away frombase 20). While the adjustable stand 10 shown in FIGS. 1-4 hasprojections 40 spaced apart to form four generally evenly distributedelevations, according to other exemplary embodiments more or fewerprojections 40 may be provided or projections 40 may be unevenlydistributed (e.g. to provide more elevations along a portion of thelength of risers 30, etc.).

A platform 50 engages projections 40 and provides a shelf to support anobject such as a potted plant. According to an exemplary embodiment,platform 50 is formed from metal wire (or other suitably durablematerial) similar to the wire that forms base 20 and risers 30. Platform50 is shown to include a multitude of concentric circles 52 and amultitude of spokes 54 that extend generally from the middle of platform50. Circles 52 and spokes 54 may be twisted together, welded together orotherwise coupled together. The open nature of platform 50 allows waterfrom plants 14 displayed on adjustable stand 10 to drain throughplatform 50.

Circles 52 and spokes 54 form a multitude of openings 56 that areconfigured to receive risers 30. Platform 50 rests on projections 40extending from risers 30. Projections engage an edge of openings 56 tosupport platform 50. In an exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4,risers 30 are biased outward from base 20 and projections 40 and risers30 engage the outermost circle 52 of platform 50. The tension on theplatform 50 provided by the outward biasing of each of the multitude ofrisers 30 facilitates the removable coupling of platform 50 to the restof adjustable stand 10 at one of the elevations provided by projections40. According to various exemplary embodiments, projections 40 mayextend inward and/or outward from risers 30 and risers 30 may be biasedinward or outward to engage openings 56 in platform 50 in a variety ofways.

According to other alternative embodiments, the platform may have any ofa variety of other shapes (e.g. square, rectangular, etc.), and with anyof a wide variety of opening configurations (e.g. “basket-weave,” etc.),and may be made from a wide variety of materials (e.g. plastic, copper,etc.).

It is also important to note that the arrangement of the adjustablestand, as shown, are illustrative only. Although only a few embodimentsof the present disclosure have been described in detail, those skilledin the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that manymodifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions,structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values ofparameters, mounting arrangements, materials, colors, orientations,etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings andadvantages of the subject matter recited herein. Many modifications arepossible without departing from the scope of the invention unlessspecifically recited in the claims. Accordingly, all such modificationsare intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosureas described herein. The order or sequence of any process or methodsteps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternativeembodiments. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and/oromissions may be made in the design, operating conditions andarrangement of the preferred and other exemplary embodiments withoutdeparting from the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure asexpressed herein.

1. An adjustable stand for supporting plants for display in a container;the adjustable stand comprising: a base, configured for placement in thecontainer a plurality of risers extending generally upwardly from thebase; a series of projections extending from each of the risers, theprojections spaced apart from one another at predetermined intervals todefine a plurality of elevations above the base; a platform having aportion configured to removably engage the projections on the risers ateach of the plurality of elevations.
 2. The adjustable stand of claim 1wherein the base comprises two pairs of wires arranged in the form of anX shape.
 3. The adjustable stand of claim 2 wherein the risers comprisecontinuations of the pairs of wires extending upwardly from the base. 4.The adjustable stand of claim 3 wherein the continuations of the pairsof wires comprise a portion extending below the base to provide feet forthe base.
 5. The adjustable stand of claim 1 wherein the projectionsextend outwardly and the risers are biased in one of an inward oroutward direction.
 6. The adjustable stand of claim 5 wherein theplatform comprises a plurality of concentric circles interconnected by aplurality of spokes.
 7. The adjustable stand of claim 6 wherein theconcentric circles and spokes of the platform define openings thatreceive the risers and constrain the position of the biased risers. 8.The adjustable stand of claim 7 wherein the concentric circles and thespokes are formed from wire.
 9. The adjustable stand of claim 8 whereina shape of the projections is substantially spherical to facilitateretention of the concentric circle wires between the riser and theprojections.
 10. An adjustable support for displaying plants in acontainer, comprising: a first elongated loop having substantiallyparallel sides that define a central region and end regions, the endregions extending generally upward from the central region; a secondelongated loop having substantially parallel sides that define a centralregion and end regions, the end regions extending generally upward fromthe central region; the central regions of the first and second loopscoupled to one another to define a base with the end regions extendingfrom the base to define risers; a series of supports extending along atleast one of the parallel sides in the end regions of each loop fromeach of the risers, the supports defining a plurality of elevationsabove the base; a platform having openings to receive the end regions ofthe loops and to engage the supports on each end region that correspondto any one of a plurality of predetermined elevation settings configuredto display the plants in the container.
 11. The adjustable support ofclaim 10 wherein the loops comprise wire loops.
 12. The adjustablesupport of claim 11 wherein the supports are projections extending fromthe risers.
 13. The adjustable support of claim 10 wherein the platformcomprises a framework and the openings are sized to receive the risers.14. The adjustable support of claim 13 wherein the framework comprises awire framework defining a circle and spoke pattern.
 15. The adjustablesupport of claim 10 wherein the risers are biased relative to a locationof the openings in the platform to provide one of tension or compressionon the platform.
 16. An adjustable support for displaying plants in acontainer, comprising: a base having a plurality of feet configured tobe supported on the container; a plurality of risers extending upwardlyfrom the base and having supports positioned at least partiallytherealong at locations corresponding to predetermined displayelevations for the plants; a platform having openings to receive therisers and to engage supports corresponding to any one of thepredetermined display elevations; wherein the risers are biased relativeto a location of the openings in the platform to provide one of tensionor compression on the platform.
 17. The adjustable support of claim 16wherein the base, feet and risers are formed by two pairs of wiresjoined in a substantially perpendicular orientation.
 18. The adjustablesupport of claim 17 wherein the two pairs of wires are releasablysecured in the substantially perpendicular orientation by a clip. 19.The adjustable support of claim 17 wherein the supports compriseprojections extending from the risers.
 20. The adjustable support ofclaim platform comprises a framework with openings configured to permitdrainage from plants displayed thereon.